Ontario's Historical Plaques

at ontarioplaques.com

Learn a little Ontario history as told through its plaques

St. Raphael's Ruins

The Parish of St. Raphael

Glengarry Emigration of 1786

Bishop Alexander Macdonell 1762-1840

and

Bishop Alexander Macdonell 1762-1840

The first four plaques on this page are located in
the Village of St. Raphael in South Glengarry.
The fifth can be found in the City of Kingston.
All can be seen on this page.

Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted June, 2009

Plaque Location

The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry
The Township of South Glengarry
In St. Raphael, on a stone cairn
in front of St. Raphael's Church Ruins

Coordinates: N 45 12.698 W 74 35.854

Plaque Text

The extraordinary ruins of this church recall the early history of Roman Catholicism in Upper Canada. Begun in 1815, St. Raphael's Church originally served as the centre of the colony's largest and most important parish, and the administrative headquarters of the first Roman Catholic bishop, Alexander Macdonell. Situated in the heart of the historic Highland settlement, the parish was the cradle of Catholicism in Ontario. The ruins left standing after the fire of 1970 serve as a testament to Bishop Macdonell's determined efforts to forward the interests of his faith.

More
Information

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted June, 2005

Photo by contributor Wayne Adam - Posted December, 2009

Plaque Text

A mission of the Roman Catholic Highlanders of the Raisin River settlement was begun in 1786 by the Reverend Alexander Macdonell (Scotus) and later a small frame church, called the "Blue Chapel" was built. St. Raphael's Parish was officially recognized in 1802. The existing stone church, a fine example of Canadian neo-classical design, was begun in 1821 by the Most Reverend Alexander Macdonell, who had been appointed to St. Raphael's in 1804, made Vicar General of Upper Canada in 1807, and consecrated Bishop of Rhesina in 1820. From 1807 to 1826, when Macdonell became Bishop of Regiopolis (Kingston), St. Raphael's was the administrative centre of the Church of Upper Canada.

More
Information

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted June, 2005

Photo by contributor Wayne Adam - Posted December, 2009

Plaque Text

Early in September, 1786, a group of some 500 Scottish Highlanders, the majority of whom were Macdonells, arrived at Quebec. They were led by their parish priest from Knoydart, Glengarry, the Reverend Alexander MacDonell (Scotus). Forced to emigrate because of the depressed economic conditions of the Highlands, they had been encouraged to come to Canada and settle among their fellow countrymen in what is now Glengarry County. Despite initial hardships most of these Scottish pioneers settled successfully in this region, where their loyalty and military prowess were frequently demonstrated. Father MacDonell founded the parish of St. Raphael, one of the province's earliest Roman Catholic congregations.

More
Information

Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted June, 2009

Photo Source - Wikipedia

Plaque Text

Born in Scotland and educated for the priesthood, MacDonell obtained land in Glengarry County and, in 1804, brought many soldiers from his disbanded Highland Regiment to join the Loyalists already in Upper Canada. Having helped raise a second regiment which he accompanied into action during the War of 1812, he launched an unsuccessful campaign for provincially supported Catholic Schools. Consecrated in 1826, he became the first Roman Catholic Bishop in Upper Canada. After serving as a Legislative Councillor (1831-9), he returned to Scotland to promote emigration to Canada. He died at Dumfries.

More
Information

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted June, 2004

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted July, 2007

Plaque Location

The County of Frontenac
The City of Kingston
On the southwest corner of Bagot and Johnson Streets

Coordinates: N 44 13.794 W 76 29.121

Plaque Text

Patriot, colonizer and priest, he was born in the Highlands of Scotland. In 1804 he came to Canada as chaplain of the disbanded Glengarry Fencibles and later became Auxiliary Bishop of Quebec. As the first Bishop of the Roman Catholic diocese of Kingston, formed in 1826, he lived in this building and in 1831 was appointed to the Legislative Council of Upper Canada. In 1837 he founded Regiopolis College in Kingston and is buried in St. Mary's Cathedral in this city.

More
Information

More
Churches

More
Religion

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

Posted February 8, 2010
im from canada i have been to st raphels many times my grand parents have donated lots of money there we are all on the cameron plaque!

Here's where you can write a comment for this page.

Note: If you wish to ask me a question, please use the email link in the menu.

Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours
(usually much sooner).

Note: As soon as the comment is posted, a link to it will appear on the home page in the section "Here are the 10 latest plaque pages with a new comment added by a visitor to this site."